Dispensing machine



Sept. 17, 1957 D. B. SEELEY DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1954.

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ZJAVJW ATTORNEYS p 7, 1957 D. B. SEELEY 2,806,693

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Oct '1, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet v BY lldau 5 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR United States Patent DISPENSING MACHINE Dunham B. Seeley, Clarks Green, Pa., assignor to Eureka Specialty Printing Company, Scranton, Pin, a corp-oration of Pennsylvania Application October 7, 1954, Seriai No. 469,931

29 Claims. (Cl. 2712.5)

mined by the selector keys, and devices effective to inter-.

rupt the operation of the said determining means at the end of the cycle.

Another feature is the provision of quantity selecting means, a feed means including a shaft and means moved thereby for feeding the articles by a predetermined quantity for each revolution of the shaft, and a cycle-deter mining means effective in cooperation with the selecting means for controlling the feed means.

Another feature is the provision of a source of power, a primary clutch, a secondary clutch driven therethrough, a feed means driven through the secondary clutch, quantity selecting means, cycle-determining means cooperative with the selecting means for controlling the secondary clutch, and means controlled by the determining means for opening the primary clutch.

A further feature is the provision of a feeding system comprising a feed shaft, a pair of cams on the feed shaft, a pair of feed plates having article advancing devices and square openings for the cams, in which the cams cause the plates to move through quadrilateral paths, and selecting means for controlling the rotation of the shaft and effecting stoppage thereof at a predetermined relative position.

A further feature is the provision of selecting means including a plurality of selector keys, detent means for holding any selected key in depressed position, a cycledeterrnining means for successive release of the detent means and therewith the depressed keys, a feed means, means controlled by the keys for procuring operation of the feed means so long as a key is depressed and for stopping operation thereof when the said key is released, and means for causing the feed means to come to rest at an invariant position.

A further feature is the provision of a stamp feeding system including a feed table having slots, feed means having fingers movable in quadrilateral paths including forward feeding strokes with the fingers projecting through the slots and engaging a stamp strip on said table, and a table cover having recesses for the finger travel.

A further feature is the provision of a stamp feeding system including a feed table having guide ribs and slots, feed means having fingers movable in quadrilateral paths including forward feeding strokes with the fingers projecting through the slots and engaging a stamp strip on said table, and a table cover resting on said ribs and having recesses for the finger travel.

A further feature is the provision of an article dispensing mechanism including a cycle-determining means, quantity selecting means, feeding means controlled by the Selecting means, means for procuring driving of the deter- 2,806,693 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 "ice ing means, and means actuated by the determining means for releasing the selecting means.

A further feature is the provision of an article dispensing mechanism including a cycle determining means, quantity selecting means, feeding means controlled by the selecting means, means for procuring driving of the determining means and including a motion maintaining device controlled by the determining means for assuring completion of cyclic movements thereof, :a device controlled by the determining means for initiating operation of the feeding means, means actuated by the determining means for releasing the selecting means, and a disabling means for preventing actuating of the feeding means during movement of the determining means.

A further feature is the provision of a strip dispensing means, including selecting means and feeding means controlled thereby for feeding selected lengths of the strip, means for severing the strip, cycle-determining means for releasing the selecting means and thereafter procuring automatic operation of the severing means, and manually operable means for preventing operation of the severing means.

An illustrative form of practice is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine parts, with the covers removed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, with a cover structure shown in dash-dot lines.

Fig. 4 is an upright section substantially on broken line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an upright section substantially on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an upright section, on a larger scale, substantially on broken line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an upright section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a selector key, in face view.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a selector key, in edge view.

Fig. 10 is a detailed view showing a latch lever assembly, in side elevation.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the parts in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a pivot clamp as indicated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a top view of a multiple bar controlled by selector keys.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the structure of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a cam assembly, viewed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the parts in Fig. 15, viewed in the direction of the arrow therein.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the feeder cams and plates, in exploded or separated representation.

Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the non-back-up latches for feeder shafts, enlarged from the dotted line showing of Fig. 5.

Fig. 19 is an end elevation of a top guide member.

Fig. 20 is a circuit diagram.

In these drawings, the machine is illustrated as being assembled upon a base plate 20 having the stiffening channels 21 and the cushion pads 22. The mechanical parts are enclosed and protected by two cover pieces 23, 24, each of which has downwardly extending skirts. The cover structure 24 is preferably mounted by hinges 25 (Fig. 2) so that it may be swung upward and laterally to afford access to the stamp magazines and feeders. The cover structure 23 is preferably secured in place against removal by unauthorized personnel.

The cover structure 23 has a depressed area 26 at which the operator may place a sales receipt or the like, while performing a stamp-delivery operation. Two banks of keys project through a slot 27 in cover structure 23, and comprise a bank 30 of units keys and a bank 31 of tens keys, which illustratively bear respectively the corresponding digits and tens values. An operation key 32 is separably mounted on a stem 33 (Fig. 3) extending through a hole in cover structure 23. An error key 34 is separably mounted on a stern 35 extending through another hole of the cover structure 23. A toggle switch 36 is supported in the machine with its handle 37 projecting through an aperture in the cover structure 23. A flexible conductor 38 (Fig. 1) leads to the electrical supply mains while the machine is in service.

A transparent cover plate 40 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 19) overlies the path of advancement of stamp strips, and permits viewing the same. The cover plate 40 has a locating pin 41 (Figs. 3 and 19), for entering an aperture 42 (Fig. 2) for accurately determining the position of the cover plate 40, in conjunction with the engagement of its grooves 43 with the ribs 44, 45, 46' secured on a feed table 47 (Fig, 2).

A receiving tray 48 and a deflector plate 49' (Figs. 1 and 5) provide a receptacle for the dispensed and severed stamps. A lift handle 50 is provided on the cover structure 24 (Fig. 1) to facilitate the hinged movement thereof. A portion 51 connected with the cover structure 24 overlies (Figs. 1 and 5) a severing knife 52.

Driving system As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a main driving motor has a shaft with a gear 61 thereon in mesh with gear 62 on a hollow shaft 63 for actuating the driving portion of a primary clutch assembly A, having a driven member 66 provided with a projecting pin 67, and secured to the driven shaft 75. A movable detent 68 is provided on a sliding link 69. (Figs 2 and 3) which is normally urged by spring 70 so that the detent 68 enters the path of the pin 67 for detaining the member 66 against rotation. The primary clutch solenoid 71, when energized, moves the link 69 and therewith the detent 63 frees the pin 67 so that the drive then operates to rotate the main drive shaft which is coaxial with the hollow shaft 63 of gear 62. The clutch assembly is illustrated conventionally, with inclusion of a spring 76 between a collar 73 on shaft 75 and the driven member 66 for yielding when the pin 67 is held by detent 68 and thereby reducing the load upon the motor. When the detent 68 frees the pin 67, the member 66 is moved by the spring 76 and the clutch engages and causes driving of shaft 75 until the pin 67 is again engaged by detent 68. Such structures are commercially available, and are illustrative of driving clutches which include detaining means to hold a driven shaft at standstill in a selected rest position between operatlons and parts effective upon release of the detaining means to procure a driving operation until the detaining means again acts.

The various pinions and gears are largely conventionalized as circles in the drawings, for simplicity.

A pinion 77 secured on shaft 75 is in mesh with a gear 78 loose on shaft 79 and coupled to a pinion 80 in mesh with the large gear 81 on shaft 82; shaft 82 in turn has a pinion 83 in mesh with the large gear 84 fixed on shaft 79 which has a pinion 85 which is in mesh with an idler gear 86 fixed on shaft 87 and thus coupled to gear 88 which is in driving relation to the gear 89 of a first cam set mounted on shaft 90. Gear 89 is in mesh with gear 91 fixed on the shaft 92 of a second cam set. This assemblage of gears permits driving from the motor 60 to the cam shafts 90, 92 at a greatly reduced ratio, when the primary clutch 65, 66 is free to operate by the with, drawal of detent 68 from pin 67.

A second mechanical driving system extends from shaft 75 to two independent feeder clutches B and C. The idler gear 95 on shaft 96 is in mesh with both the gear 97 secured to shaft 75 and with a gear 98 secured to a feeder clutch assembly C which is illustratively identical with that of the primary clutch A and is correspondingly marked with the same reference numerals and has a stop pin 67 engageable by a detent 63 which is normally moved to an engaging position by spring 70, but is retracted when the feeder clutch solenoid 100 is energized. The gear 98 is in mesh with a gear 99 on a second feeder clutch assembly B, in which the parts have likewise been marked with the same identifying numerals, and which is controlled by the feeder solenoid 101 so that upon energization of solenoid 101, the clutch assembly is effective to drive a feeder. The clutch member 66 associated with solenoid 100 is connected to shaft 103 (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6) which extends through notches in the units feeder support plates 115, 116, 117 (Fig. 6) and has a gear 108 in mesh with the train of idler gears 109, 110 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) supported on the assembly of tens feeder support plates 105, 106, 107, whereby to drive the gear 111 on the feeder cam shaft 112 upon which are mounted a pair of feeder cam members 123a, 124a which are of identical shape but mounted at 180 degrees apart.

The units feeder drive clutch B is controlled by the solenoid 101, wherewith the shaft 115 (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6) may be rotated, this shaft being journalled in the assembly of upright units feeder plates 115, 116, 117, which correspond in shape and purpose to-the plates 105, 106, 107 of the tens feeder system. The shaft 115 has a gear 118 thereon which acts through an idler gear 119 to drive the gear 120 secured to the units feed shaft 121 journalled in the plates 115, 117, and having mounted thereon a pair of cams 123, 124 functionally identical with cams 123a, 124a. The ratios of drive from gear 98 to the feeder shaft 112, and from gear 98 to feeder shaft 121, are the same in the illustrative form; so that when the gear 98 makes one full revolution of 360 degrees, the shaft 121 performs a movement of 360 degrees if the clutch assembly B has been engaged by energization of solenoid 101, and the feeder shaft 112 performs a movement of 360 degrees if the clutch assembly C has been engaged by energization of solenoid 100. In the units strip system, the first half revolution of feeder shaft 121 causes the strip S to be advanced a half stamp length, followed by a further half stamp length advancement during the second half revolution of the feeder shaft 121; so that the strip S is fed by one stamp distance or length for each revolution of shaft 121. In the tens strip system, the first half revolution of feeder shaft 121 causes the strip SS to be advanced a full stamp length, followed by a full stamp length advancement the second half revolution of shaft 112; so that the strip SS is fed by two stamp distances or lengths for each revolution of shaft 112.

Selector key system Thetwo banks 30, 31 comprise identical selector keys, the two banks'being symmetrically arranged. Each key (Figs. 8 and 9) has an enlarged knob at its top, a narrow stem portion 131 which is guided in a slot of an upper key plate 132 (Fig. 4), laterally projecting lugs 133 for receiving the upper end of a key-lifting spring 134 (Fig. 4) which spring bears at its lower end against the upper surface of a second key plate 135 having guiding slots therein for the several keys. A further stem portion 136 oneach key has a notch 137 and is guided in .a corresponding slot of a third key plate 133 (Fig. 4), each key having a laterally projecting lug 139 at its lower end.

Each key has a corresponding latch lever 140 (Figs. 4, 10 and 11), the levers being loosely mounted on a pivot wire 141 for the respective bank of keys, this wire loosely overlying the third key plate 138 (Figs. 4 and 11) and maintained against'movement by the screw-held clamps 143 (Figs. 3 and 12). Each detent 140 is located in the same slot of the third key plate 138 as its respective key, for alinement therewith. The projecting pin 144 of each detent 140 can engage the under surface of the third key plate 138, for example when the detent 140 of Fig. 11 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, thereby limiting the detent movement. Each detent has a shoulder 145 which can pass above the lug 139 of the corresponding key, thereby becoming effective to detain this key against upward movement. In Fig. 4, the illustrated key of bank 30 is in upper position, with its lug 139 bearing against an upper part of the edge of detent 140; while the illustrated key of bank 31 is in depressed position, with its detent 140 presenting its shoulder 145 over the lug 139 and this detaining the key in depressed position. The detents are normally urged into detaining position by individual blade springs 147 bearing against the upper edge of the respective detent 140 at a point offset from the pivot 141: these springs 147 for each key bank assembly (Fig. 4) are illustratively joined into 'a comb which is held by a clamp plate 148.

The key bank 30 is associated with a switch-closing rock shaft 150, and the key bank 31 is associated with the corresponding switch-closing rock shaft 151. These rock shafts and their parts are symmetrically arranged, and only one will be described in detail in connection with Figs. 4, 13 and 14 in which the rock shaft 150 in Fig. 13 has ears 152 secured thereto and supporting a bar 153 which extends into the notches 137 of each of the selector keys of the corresponding bank. Projections 154 from the end ears 152 extend through slots in the second key plate 135 and engage the actuators of corresponding switches 156a, 1561) for key bank 30 and 157a, 15711 for key bank 31 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). Pins 158 on the two rock shafts 150, 151 are connected by a common spring 159 so that the rock shafts normally tend to move in the direction for lifting the bars 153. In operation, when a selector key is depressed, the upper edge of its notch 137 engages the corresponding bar 153 and causes the corresponding shaft 150, 151 to rock, and therewith the projections 154 are moved away from the actuator members of switches 156a, 156b or 157a, 157b. Thus, the movement of any key in either key bank 30, 31 will cause movement of a bar 153 and a movement of the corresponding switches 156a, 15612 or 15711, 157b: and this position of the switches will be maintained so long as any key is being held latched in depressed position by its corresponding detent member 140.

The cam shafts 90, 92 are identical in purpose but symmetrically arranged, and only one need be described in detail. In Figs. 4, 15 and 16, the shaft 92 has mounted thereon a series of sleeves 160, each of which has a projecting finger. These fingers 161, 162, 163 170' are successively at 30 angles of advancement with respect to one another (Fig. 16), for the illustrated decimal system, wherewith the finger 161 is spaced so that its advancing edge is about to degrees clockwise from the rest position of the shaft 92, indicated by the line RA in Fig. 16. Thus, in a single revolution of the shaft 92, during the first 30 of movement, the finger 161 will have come to the line RA; at 60 of movement, the finger 162 will have come to this line; at 90 of movement, the finger 163 will have come to this line; until after 300 of movement, the finger 170 has come to the line RA.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 11, each of the detent members 140 has a depending leg 172 which in the locking position of the detent (illustrated for the key of bank 31 in Fig. 4) lies in the path of the respective fingers 161 170, so that during the single revolution of the respective shaft 90, 92, a finger will encounter the leg 172 and move the same so that the member 140 will release its corresponding key. As shown in Fig. 4, from the section line 44 in Fig. 2, the illustrated keys are of a numerical value of 10 units for bank 30, and of 100 units for bank 31. The shafts 90, 92 are assumed to be in the rest position in Fig. 4. correspondingly, these shafts must move by about 300 from the respective positions shown, before the illustrated fingers (corresponding to 10 units or 10 tens deliveries) will have engaged the legs 172 of the latches 140, assuming that such latches are in locking position as shown. for the key of bank 31: that is, upon 300 degrees of movement of the respective shaft, a releasing action has been performed at each of the detents 140, the keys are in raised position, and the feeds have stopped.

The shafts 90, 92 also haves cams 177 thereon for moving the actuators 178 of two switches 180, 181 (Fig. 3) and holding switch 181 in moved position when the respective cam shaft is in rest position whereas switch 180 is then in its normal position. Switch 180 is of normally open type, and is closed by its cam 177 during the latter part of the shaft revolution, e. g. at about 345 degrees for a time to procure movement of the severing knife, and then permitted to open again, so that in zero or rest position (Fig. 3) its cam 177 has ceased acting upon switch 180. Switch 181 is of normally closed type, and is held open by its cam 177 at the zero or rest position of the shaft 92: the cam 177 permits the switch 181 to close after a few degrees of shaft motion and before the fingers 161 can have acted to release the 1 key of the unit bank or the 10 key of the tens bank, e. g. it can close at 10 degrees, and then reopens it at about 350 degrees.

One of the shafts 90, 92, illustratively the shaft 92, has a cam 184 spanning about 60 degrees of effective are and cooperative with a switch 185. The switch 185 is of normally closed type, and is held open by cam 184 when the shaft is at zero or rest position; the cam 184 permits the switch 185 to close when the shaft has turned 2 or 3 degrees, and the switch then remains closed until the shaft fingers have released the key detents, and then at about 300 degrees of shaft motion, the cam 184 opens the switch again to prevent feeder motion during the last 60 degrees of shaft motion back to zero position.

In structure, the key plates 132, 135, 138 are supported from the base plate 20 by posts 190, and are stiffened relative to one another by spacers 191 and by the bearing blocks 192 for the rock shafts 150, 151. The bearings for shafts 90, 92 are carried by an end standard or support 193 fixed to the base plate 20. An end plate 194 removably secured to the bearing standard 193 supports the switches 180, 181. The parts of the drive assembly are supported by upright walls 196, 197, which may be formed as an integral channel with the connecting bottom plate 198.

Control of the feeding system, from the selector keys, is monitored by relays 200, 201, whose connection in circuit is illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 20, described hereinafter.

It is preferred to employ a starter assembly 202 in conjunction with motor 60, likewise as described in conjunction with Fig. 20.

Feeder system The illustrated machine is intended to deliver one or more stamps in a single dispensing operation, under control of the selector keys of banks 30, 31, the operation key 32, and the toggle switch 36. In the illustrative machine, the stamps are provided in fan-fold arrangement in two magazines defined by the upright walls 230, 231, 232, one of the fan-folds being a strip S which is of single width and hereafter referred to as the one-wide strip, the other being five stamps wide and referred to as the five-wide strip SS. The selector keys of bank 30 control the operation of feeding from the one-wide strip S; and the keys of bank 31 control the feeding from the five-wide strip SS.

Briefly, when the machine operates in response to depression of a single key in bank 30, tentative circuit connections are established, which are completed when the operation key 32 is pressed, whereby the primary clutch A is engaged by energization of solenoid 71, and shortly thereafter solenoid 101 is energized so that clutch B closes and the feeder shaft 121 is caused to make one complete revolution for each 30 degrees of movement of the cam shaft 92 until the detent 140 of the depressed selector key has been engaged by the corresponding cam shaft finger 161 170, and the selector key released: upon such release, the solenoid 101 is deenergized and the clutch B is opened at the close of the prevailing revo1u tion, wherewith a number of stamps hasbeen fed from the strip S corresponding to the numerical value of the key in bank 30 which had been depressed. Correspondingly, depression of a single key in bank 31 and movement of the operation key 32, procures starting of the motor 60 and the cam shaft 90, and energization of the solenoid 100, so that pairs of rows of stamps from the strip SS are dispensed with each full revolution of the feeder shaft 112 and its then-closed clutch assembly C, corresponding to successive 30 degree movements of the cam shaft 90, until a finger 161 170 of cam shaft 90 engages the detent 140 of the depressed key and releases this key, whereupon the feeding is stopped after close of a feeding cycle due to deenergization of the solenoid 100. When a single key of each bank is depressed, the motor action is as before, but the feedings from the strips S and SS are respectively and individually controlled by the selector keys which have been depressed in the respective banks.

The parts associated with shafts 112, 121 are shown in Fig. 17. It will be noted that the cam parts of the feeder for the units strip S are smaller than the parts of the feeder for the tens strip SS.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 17, the units feed shaft 121 has symmetrically mounted thereon the two cams 123, 124 which are 180 separated in their function. These cams (Fig. 6) are on opposite sides of the spacer plate 116. Rectangular feeder plates 250, 251 have square openings 252 therein for receiving the respective cams 123, 124. These cams are of triangular shape, with sides forming circular arcs; the altitude of the triangular shape from a curved base to a curved apex and the arcuate span of a side each corresponds to the length of the sides of the respective square openings 252. Each plate 250, 251 has a pair of pins 253, 254 projecting therefrom and through a slot 255 (Fig. 2) in the table 47. The cams are shown (Fig. 5) in the position of rest of the structure, wherewith the pins 253, 254 are all at the same height, and all extend through perforations in the one-wide stamp strip; the pins of the pairs 253, 254 being spaced apart accurately by the perforation distance. By construction, further, the pins 253, 254 are also spaced, in this rest position, from the edge of the stationary cutting knife 260 (Fig. 5) by an integral number of stamp lengths. Corresponding to this halfheight position of the pins at rest, the plates 250, 251 are equally spaced from the upper guide bars 261 and the lower guide bars 262. The plate 250 rests against an upright guide bar 263 and is spaced by one stamp distance from another upright guide bar 264 (Fig. 5). The plate 251 (dotted lines, Fig. 5) is at the same height, but rests against an upright bar 264.

In operation, as the shaft 121 turns, in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5, the cam 123 acts on the plate 250 to move the latter directly downward, guided by the upright bar 263, therewith withdrawing the pins 253 from the perforations in the one-wide stamp strip S: correspondingly, the cam 124 moves the plate 251 vertically upward, thereby advancing its pins 254 to a higher point within the perforations of the one-wide stamp strip S. Thus, at all times, at least one pair of pins is engaged in the stamp strip, and accurate and full control is maintained. When the cam 123 has moved the plate 250 to its lowest position, this plate 256 is in contact with and ready for guiding in horizontal movement along the lower guide member 262: and correspondingly the plate 251 has been raised until it is in guidable relation with the members 261. Thereupon, the shape of the cams 123, 124 is such that the respective plates 250, 251 are moved horizontally, the plate 250 moving toward the right in Fig. 5 and the plate 251 moving toward the left. The pins 253 of plate 250 are below the level of the stamp strip, and exert no action thereon: the pins 254 are engaged in the stamp strip, so that the leftward movement of the plate 251 causes advancement of the stamp strip by a half stamp length. Thereupon the cam 123 acts upon the plate 250 to raise the same by its permissible vertical stroke; and the cam 124 acts to lower the plate 251 by the stroke of the same. The shaft 121 is now brought to rest, as will be described hereinafter in connection with Fig. 20, by de-encrgization of the solenoid 101 and engagement of detent 68 with the pin 67 of the units feed clutch B, if only one stamp is to be delivered: and thus the pins 253, 254 are again at half-height position, incontrol of the stamp strip. If more than one stamp is to be delivered, the shaft 121 will perform a corresponding number of revolutions, and during each revolution a stamp will be fed.

Corresponding parts and operation are provided on the feed 112 for the five-wide strip SS, wherewith cams 123a, 124a identical in function with cams 123, 124 are caused to move and thereby cause plates 250a, 251a identical in function with plates 250, 251 to move in quadrilateral paths of motion, but structurally the cams 123a, 124a and the openings-plates 250a, 251a have larger sizes so that for each half-revolution or degrees movement of the feed shaft 112 the pins 273, 274 on the plates 250a, 251a move by a full stamp height, and for 360 degrees of movement of the feed shaft 112, the stamp strip SS is advanced by two rows or ten stamps.

To prevent reverse motion of the feeders and their drive assemblies, the blocking members 280, 281 are provided (Figs. 5 and 18) upon shafts 103, 115, each having a shoulder for engagement by a pivoted latch 282 or 283 mounted on a pivot 284 carried by a stud 285 in the assembly of plates 115, 116, 117. A torsion spring 287 holds the latches 282, 283 engaged with the members 280, 281. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a third antireversal stop is provided by a stem 286 on which is slidable a brake block 238 having tapered faces at its lower end for engaging the surfaces of the clutch members 65 and braking the same against retrograde rotation but permitting forward movement in the direction of the arrows. A spring 289 surrounds the upper end of the stern 286 and presses the block 288 downward with reaction against an enlarged head 286s on the stem 286.

Knife assembly The stationary knife blade 260 (Figs. 2 and 5) is supported by a strong upright end member 290 with its cutting edge spaced a distance equal to an integral number of stamp heights from the rest position of the respective pins 253, 254, 273, 274. The movable knife 52 is carried by a rock shaft 291 journalled (Figs. 4 and 5) on brackets 292 fixed to the strong member 290. The shaft 291 has a crank arm 294 (Figs. 2 and 3) connected by a link 295 with the core 296 of a knife actuating solenoid 297, so that when the solenoid is energized, the shaft 291 is rocked in a clockwise direction in Figs. 3 and 5, and the knife 52 is caused to out either or both stamp strips S, SS along the line of perforations thereof positioned at the edge of stationary knife 260. When the solenoid is de-energized, the return spring 298 acts for restoring the knife to its cleared position as shown in Fig. 5.

The cover piece 40 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 19) has recesses 300, 301 located above the positions and path of travel of the respective feeder pins 253, 254 and 273, 274, to permit movement of these pins, without exposing the operator to danger of contact therewith. This member 40 normally rests upon the guide bars 44, 45, 46, leaving a minor clearance for the respective stamp strips, so that these strips are prevented from buckling and are caused to move forward regularly asfed.

The switches and other parts have been located and described mechanically above, and their electrical connections and functions will now be set out in conjunction with the circuit diagram of Fig. 20.

The rock shaft 150 (Figs. 4, 13 and 14) controls two normally closed sets of contacts 156a and 156b, these contacts being held open by the respective projections 154 when all keys of bank are in raised position. The rock shaft 151 controls a normally closed set of contacts 157b which are held open by the corresponding projection 154 when all keys of bank 31 are in raised position. The rock shaft 151 also controls a double-throw set of contacts 157a by a projection 154.

The operation button 32 when depressed will cause momentary closure of a switch 310, this switch opening again when the button 32 is released. The error or clearing button 34 upon depression closes a switch 311, which opensagain as soon as the button 34 is released. The toggle switch 36 controls contacts 312.

The coil of relay 200, when energized, acts to close contacts 313: and the coil of relay 201 when energized acts to shift. the circuit-closing element in a double-throw switch arrangement 314.

The circuit'connection of parts is shown in Fig. 20. The cable 38 connecting the electrical parts to the mains includes a conductor 400 which leads to movable contacts of the switches 181, 156a, 157a in multiple, so that if any one of these three switches is closed as described hereinafter, current will then flow by conductor 401 to the motor control box 202 and thus to the motor 60, returning by bus conductor 402 back to the cable 38, and the motor will run. Branching from conductor 401 is a conductor 403 leading to the movable contact 314 of relay 201 and thence normally by conductor 404 to the switch 185 which is open at rest position but closed shortly after the primary clutch A is engaged, so that current then flows by conductors 405 to the switch 1561: which is open so long as all units keys of bank 30 are in raised position, and also to switch 157b which is open so long as all of the tens keys of bank 31 are in raised position: from the respective switches, current flows to the corresponding feeder solenoids 101, 100 and thence back to the bus conductor 402. The error switch 311 is normally open and is interposed between conductor 403 and a conductor 406 leading to the coil of relay 201 and thence back to bus conductor 402. When the error key is depressed, closing switch 311, solenoid 201 is energized and its movable contact 314 is shifted so that current no longer flows from conductor 403 to conductor 404, but is instead led from conductor 403 direct to conductor 406, so that the switch contacts 314 now serve for maintaining the energization of relay coil 201 so long as current flows in conductor 401.

Another branch 408 from conductor 401 leads through the contacts of the operation switch 310 when closed and thence by conductors 409 to the coil of the primary clutch solenoid 71 and also to the coil of relay 200, energizing the same. Thus, the primary clutch is not closed until the operations switch 310 has been pressed. Simultaneously with such key depression, relay 200 is energized and closes its contacts 313, therewith bridging switch 310 and assuring maintenance of energization of the coils of the primary clutch solenoid 71 and relay 200 so long as current flows in conductor 401.

The movable blade of switch 157a, controlled from the selector keys of bank 31, is in conductive relation to conductor 410 so long as all the tens keys are in raised position. Conductor 410 is connected through normally open switch 180 and the toggle switch 312 to the coil 297 of the knife solenoid, with a return to the bus conductor 402. Thus, the knife solenoid can only be energized when all three switches 157a, 180, 312 are in proper positions. So long as any corresponding selector key is depressed in position, switch 157a does not permit energizing conductor 410. So long as the cam 177 is away from the actuator 178 of switch 180, this switch is open: and thus the knife solenoid can only be energized after the cam shaftshave jointly turned through distances for clearing all keys, i. e. more than 300 degrees. Toggle switch 312 is manually operative, and when moved to open position, several dispensing operations can be performed successively without intervening knife operations, as will be described hereinafter.

The method of operation of the mechanism is as follows:

At the rest or zero position, the strips S, SS of stamps have lines of perforation overlying the edge of the fixed knife 260, and the movable knife 52 is in raised position (Fig. 5). The several feeder pins are at half-height position, thereby preventing either forward or backward movement of the respective stamp strip. The feeder shafts 112, 121 are at a standstill, and are so held by the engagement of their detents 68 with the pins 67 of the corresponding clutches B, C, the feed clutch solenoids 100, 101 being deenergized. The motor 60 is at a standstill, and the primary clutch assembly A is being held against movement by its latch 68 controlled by a solenoid 71 which is de-energized. All selector keys of banks 30, 31 are in raised position. Operation button 32 is raised and its switch 310 is open. The error button 34 is raised and its switch 311 is open. The toggle switch 36 holds its contacts 312 closed. The cams 90, 92 are in rest or zero position (Figs. 3 and 4) with the cam 177 of shaft having just passed the actuator of switch so that this switch is in its normally open position, and the cam 177 of shaft 92 engaged with the actuator of switch 181 so that this switch is being held in open position. The cam 184 is holding switch open.

Assuming that the magazines contain ample stamps in one-wide and five-wide fan-folds, the operator is informed of or computes the number of stamps which are to be delivered, and strikes the proper keys of banks 30, 31. For example, if only six stamps are to be delivered, the 6 key of bank 30 is struck, and no key of bank 31 is struck. If sixty stamps are to be delivered, the 60 key of bank 31 is struck, and no key of bank 30 is struck. If forty-three stamps are to be delivered, the 40 key of bank 31 is struck, and the 3 key of bank 30 is struck. The striking of these keys causes closure of one or both of switches 156a, 157a so that current flows from conductor 400 to conductor 401, and the motor 60 starts without load, the primary clutch A being open. This action results as the selected key strikes a bar 153 and moves rock shaft 150 or 151, so that the corresponding projection 154 recedes and permits closure of the corresponding switch 156a, 157a. The downward movement of the selected key or keys also brings the lug 139 of such key beneath the shoulder 145 of the corresponding detent 140, so that this detent moves and latches the key against upward movement. Simultaneously with the closing of one or more of the switches 156a, 157a, closure also occurs of the corresponding switches 156b, 157b, so that there is energization by conductor 403 and switch 314 to conductor 404, but since normally closed switch 185 is being held open by cam 184, current cannot continue onward to switches 156a, 157a, and thus to the solenoids 101, 100.

The operator now moves the operations button 32, giving it a momentary downward motion until switch 310 closes. Current now flows from conductor 401 by conductor 408, switch 310 and conductor 409, so that the primary clutch solenoid 71 and the coil of relay 2 00 are both energized. When solenoid 71 is energized, its detent 68 is withdrawn so that the primary clutch A closes and the machine begins to operate. When relay 200 is energized, its contacts 313 are closed and a maintaining circuit is established so that switch 310 can be reopened without consequence. As the motor drives the train, the cam shafts 90, 92 are rotated simultaneously as shown by the arrows in Fig. 4. After a few degrees of movement, cam 184 releases the actuator of switch 185, so that this switch closes and current can now flow from conductor 404 to conductors 405 and thus to the switches 156b, 1571:. Hence, since one or both of switches 156b, 157b is closed, due to corresponding depression of any key in the corresponding bank 31, 30, current flow occurs to the corresponding feeder solenoid 101 or 100 or both. Therewith, the corresponding detent 68 for the respective feeder clutch B or C is withdrawn, so that the clutch engages and feeding starts at a rate controlled by the gearing ratio. Likewise, cam 177 for the switch 181 leaves the actuator of this switch, so that the switch moves to its normally closed position, and thus bridges the switches 156a, 157a, of which at least one has been closed by the key depression, so that thereafter all keys can be released and moved to position for opening the switches 156a, 1571:, without result upon the feeding of current to conductor 401, due to the action of this current-maintaining switch 181. The next effect of the turning of shafts 90, 92, is for one of the fingers 161 170 to encounter the depending leg 172 of a key detent 140 of the respective bank which has been holding the depressed key thereof in depressed position; this action starts with the latches for the 1 key in bank 30 and the key in bank 31, wherewith these keys if depressed will be released concurrently with a single feeding operation or single rotation in the respective feeding system. Thus, if the 1 key has been depressed in bank 30, it is released by the time the corresponding cam shaft 92 has turned through 30 from the rest or zero position, by the action of finger 161 on the corresponding detent 140, and this 1 key has risen and opened the corresponding switches 156a, 1561;. Opening of switch 1515b de-energizes the solenoid 101, so that the units feeder detent 68 moves into clutch-stopping position prior to the end of the feeder revolution which has delivered one stamp of the onewide strip. In succession, if another key of the bank 30 was depressed, the corresponding fingers 162 170 move opposite the depending legs 172 of the corresponding key latches 140, so that the release of the respective depressed key only occurs after a corresponding number of feeding operations upon the one-wide strip have been initiated, and thus the raising of the corresponding keys of bank 30 procures terminations of the feeding operation upon the one-wide strip S after the corresponding number of stamps have been fed forward. Corresponding effects occur upon depressions of keys in the key bank 31, so that two rows of stamps of the five-wide strip SS are delivered if the 10 key in bank 31 has been depressed, and then this feeding system is brought to a standstill upon release of the key 10 in bank 31 and the corresponding opening of the switch 157b associated with the bank 31, by de-energizing of the solenoid 100 and the release of detent 68 for the tens" feeding system. correspondingly, pairs of five-wide rows of stamps are fed corresponding to the respective key which has been depressed in the bank 31, so that if the 100 key has been depressed, the release occurs by the finger 170 of shaft 90, and the feeding system then comes to rest after twenty rows have been fed from the five-wide strip SS. Thus, during the rotation of the cam shafts through about 300 each, the fingers have successively sought for the detent or detents corresponding to the depressed key or keys, and released the detent of any depressed key. When the release occurs, by the action of either cam shaft 90 or 92, the corresponding key is moved upward by its spring 134, and therewith the corresponding bar 153 causes its projections 154 to move the switches 156a, 156b or 157a, 157b respectively. The movements of switches 156a, 157a do not interrupt energization of conductor 401 and the associated conductors, as the maintaining switch 181 is closed. In each instance, however, movement of the switches 15612 or 157b causes interruption of current flow from conductors 405 to the respective solenoid 101, 100, and these solenoids individually release their respective detents 68, thereby stopping the clutch pins 67 at the completion of a respective clutch revolution, and thus determining the amount of feeding which is produced in the respective system, in concurrence with the prevailing position of the respective cam shaft 90, 92 at the time when the depressed key has its latch released by the action of the shaft fingers.

Along with the aforesaid driving of the cam shafts 90, 92, the motor has also been acting through the released feed clutches B and/or C, controlled by solenoids 191, 100, and causing the feeding of a single stamp of the one-wide strip for each 30 of movement of the cam shaft 92, or feeding of two rows of the five-wide stamp strip for each 30 of movement of the cam shaft 90. As soon as the selected key of either bank is released by the action of its corresponding finger on the cam shaft, the key rises and the switch 156!) or 157b is opened, so that the corresponding feeder drive is brought to a standstill. If the 6 key of the units group has been depressed, the cam shaft 92 will turn continuously through six 30 arcs, or 180, before the finger 166 has encountered and moved the corresponding latch and permitted the 6 key to rise. During this movement of the cam shaft 92, six revolutions of the units feeder shaft 121 will occur, so that six stamps are fed. A corresponding action occurs with depression of the 60 key of bank 31, wherewith shaft 112 makes six complete revolutions before its clutch is again opened, and therewith twelve rows of five-wide stamps will be fed. When forty-three stamps are to be delivered, the 40 key of the tens bank 31 and the 3 key of the units bank 30 have been depressed: the cam shafts 90, 92 turn concurrently until finger 163 on cam shaft 92 encounters the detent 140 for the 3 key, and releases this wherewith the movement of bar 153 now produces an opening at switch 156a but without interruption of current flow between conductors 400 and 401, together with an opening at contacts 156b, so that current no longer flows through solenoid 101, and therewith the detent 58 controlled thereby moves to position so that it is engaged by and stops the corresponding pin 67 of clutch B at the completion of a clutch revolution which thus corresponds to a stoppage of the units feeder after three stamps have been delivered from strip S. The cam shafts 90, 92 continue and during the next 30 of movement the finger 164 of cam shaft 90 now engages the detent 140 forv the "40 key of bank 31 and releases this, whereupon the switch 157a is shifted to interrupt current flow from conductor 400 to conductor 401 and to permit current flow from conductor 400 to conductor 410, and simultaneously contacts 157k interrupt the flow of current to solenoid 100, so that the corresponding detent 63 is released and the corresponding tens drive clutch C comes to a standstill when its clutch pin 67 encounters the detent 68 after having performed a total delivery of eight rows of five-wide stamps.

Since the conductor 401 is still being maintained energized through switch 181, the motor 60 continues to turn. As the cam shaft 92 approaches the 300 position, it actuates switch to open the same. This action occurs after the feeders have begun the tenth feeding movement by a passage of the clutch pins 67 past the detents 68, in the event that both the 100 and the 10 keys have been struck: that is, the opening of switch 185 can. only occur after the final feeding revolution is begun. When switch 185 opens, current ceases to flow from conductor 404 to conductors 405, and thus no current can pass to solenoids 100, 101, regardless of an accidental closing of contacts 156b, 157b or the inteni3 tional closing when more than 100 stamps are to be fed from the five-wide strip in a single operation, as described below; and the maximum delivery of stamps from either strip is that produced by ten feeding motions during each full revolution of shafts 90, 92.

The motor 60 continues to turn until the cam shafts 90, 92 approach completion of a single revolution, whereupon one cam 177 acts to move the actuator 178 of switch 180. Actuation of switch 180 closes it, so that the tentative circuit from conductor 400 through switch 157a to conductor 410 is now extended through the closed toggle switch 312 and the knife solenoid 297 is energized, and h the advanced stamps of either or both strips S, SS are severed. As the shafts 90, 92 are about completing their 360 degrees of movement back to zero position, switch 180 is again permitted to open by its cam 177. Likewise at this approach to zero position, switch 181 is opened by its cam 177, and is held open at the zero position; so

that the circuit between conductors 400, 401 is opened,

and the motor 60 is tie-energized and comes to a standstill. When the flow of current to conductor 401 is interrupted at switch 181, also, current fails at conductor 408, so that the primary clutch solenoid 71 is de-energized and its detent 68 moves into position to engage the corresponding clutch pin 67 for stopping the main drive clutch A at the completion of the prevailing revolution. Cessation of current in conductor 408 also causes de-energization of relay 200, so that its contacts 313 open, and control is restored to the operations switch 310.

The motor has now been separated from the driving trains by the opening of the primary clutch at a defined position representing 360 of rotation or a full cycle of the cam shafts 90, 92.

An error system is provided by the button 34 and switch 311. For example, if forty-three stamps are to be issued, and the operator erroneously strikes the 50 key, it is possible to prevent the wrongful delivery by closing the switch 311. Since a key in bank 31 has been depressed and is now held latched, the switch 157a has been moved, so that current is flowing from conductor 400 to conductor 401 and the motor 60 has started; and also a tentative. circuit has been set up from conductor 403 by switch contacts 314, conductor 404 to switch 185, but switch 185 is being held open by cam 184 in this rest position of the shafts 90, 92, so that no energization of solenoids 101, 100 has occurred even though keys have been depressed and switches 156b or 157b, or both, have closed. Hence, detents 68 are still holding the feeding clutches B, C against delivering power to the feeding systems. When the operator now closes the Error switch 311, current from conductor 403 flows through switch 311 to the coil of relay 201, energizing this relay and causing its contacts 314 to be shifted, therewith opening the path of current flow to switch 185 so that, even when switch 185 closes shortly after the shafts 90, 92 start to turn, current cannot flow through switches 156b, 1571) which were closed upon depression of the selector key or keys of banks 30, 31, and thus no energization of solenoids 100, 101 can occur. Therewith the detents 68 remain in position and no feeding can occur. This condition is maintained, even if the Error key is immediately released, because the shifting of contacts 314 of relay 201 has closed a maintaining branch circuit from conductor 403 to conductor 406 in shunt of switch 311. The operator now closes the Operations switch 310 by pressing button 32, so that current flows by conductor 408 and switch 310, conductor 409, to the solenoid 71 for energizing the primary clutch A and to the coil of relay 200. Relay 200 closes its contacts 313 to establish the maintaining circuit around switch 310 as before. When the solenoid 71 effects engagement of the primary clutch A, the motor 60 drives the trains as before, but without producing movement of shafts 103, 115, because the feeding clutches B, C are still held by the detents 68. The cam shafts 90, 92 are turned as before, so that their fingers release the depressed keys. Switch 181 serves as before for maintaining flow from conductor 400 to conductor 401 and the energization of motor 60 until switch 181 opens again. When switch 181 opens, current ceases to flow in conductor 401, and thus there is no how through conductor 408, relay contacts 313, conductor 409, and to the primary clutch solenoid 71, so that the detent 68 thereof is released for stopping the primary drive clutch A when the shafts 90, 92 reach the zero position; concurrently when flow fails in conductor 409, relay 200 is de-energized and its maintaining contacts 313 open. Thus a clearing operation has been performed, with release of depressed keys, but without any feeding of stamps: and the parts have returned to the zero position.

At times, it is desirable to make several deliveries of stamps without severing the successive deliveries from one another. For example, a customer approaches the stamp clerk, and delivers two or more sales receipts. In such a case, the clerk opens the toggle switch 312 by lever 37, and proceeds in the usual way to depress the key buttons of banks 30, 31'to represent the number of stamps equivalent to the first sales receipt, and then closes the Operations switch 310. Upon actuation of at least one selector key button, the circuit is closed between conductors 400 and 401, and the motor 60 starts as before. Upon closure of Operation switch 310, the pri mary clutch is closed and the motor now drives the trains and produces the dispensing of the selected quantity of stamps from strips S or SS, or both: but since switch 312 is open, no current can flow from conductor 410 through the knife solenoid 297 as stated above, and there is no severing of this group or groups of stamps. If there are two sales receipts for the customer, the stamp clerk now throws switch 312 to closed position again, and now strikes selector keys corresponding to the second or final sales receipt, and again closes the Operation switch 310. The machine now makes the delivery of the second selected quantity of stamps, but this time the circuit is closed so that current from conductor 410 can flow through the knife solenoid 297 and elfect severing. This type of multiple delivery can be efiected with any number of sales receipts, by having the switch 312 in open position for all but the last or final receipt. Such multiple delivery of stamps is desirable, as it avoids delivery of a large number of groups of stamps to a single customer: that is, each customer may receive not more than two groups of stamps, a one-wide and a five-wide group, regardless of the number of receipts presented.

The machine can also be employed for effecting delivery of more than stamps for each energization of the operations key 310, if the operator so desires. In the above description, the maximum delivery has been 100 stamps or 20 rows from the five-wide strip SS, following depression of the 100 key, with a delivery of 10 stamps from the one-wide strip S, upon depression of the 10 key of bank 30. Assuming that it is desired to deliver 152 stamps, this may be effected by pressing the 50 and 2. keys, and then pressing the operations key 32 for closing switch 310. The action is the same as described above, so that when the cam shaft 92 brings its finger 162 opposite the 2 key, this key is released after two stamps have been fed from the one-wide strip S: cam shaft 90 later engages its finger 165 to move the detent corresponding to the 50 key. For the delivery of 152 stamps, now being described, the operator holds the 50 key in depressed position while the cam shafts 90, 92 complete their full revolutions. Since a key in bank 31 is being depressed, switch 157a is held in position for maintaining flow of current from conductor 400 to conductor 401, regardless of the position of switch 181; and hence the motor 60 continues to turn and move the drive systems beyond 360 or a single revolution of the primary clutch. The

position of switch 157a also prevents flow of current to the knife solenoid 297, regardless of the positions of switches 180 and 312, so that no severing occurs. Since conductor 401 is charged, current flows through maintaining contacts 313 and the primary clutch solenoid 71 remains energized. Since switch 1571) is held closed, the flow of current which was interrupted when cam 184 opens switch 185 at about 300 of rotation will again occur when cam 184 permits switch 185 to close again at the full 360 of rotation, and thus the solenoid 100 again closes the feeder clutch C for the five-wide strip SS, and this feeding begins again. The operator is informed when the finger 165 of cam shaft 90 strikes the detent 140 corresponding to the key 50, by the momentary visible cessation of feeding of the strip during the time the shaft is performing its last 60 degrees of movement to zero position, by the audible stoppage of the feeding clutch when its pin encounters the detent, and by the upward pressure of this key: and the operator merely holds the key downward by counter-pressure until this action has occurred, and can then, in the illustrated case of dispensing 152 stamps, release the key button at any time after the shaft finger has passed the detent 140 of the depressed key, e. g. after finger 165 releases the detent 140 for the 50 key so that the detent relatches the 50 key. Thus, the feeding system is effective to make ten feeding deliveries of stamps each during the first revolution of the cam shaft 90, and an additional five feeding deliveries of 10 stamps each during the second revolution of the cam shaft 90 prior to the time that the finger 165 of cam shaft 90 for the second time encounters the detent 140 and moves the same for releasing the corresponding 50 key. The result is that a single delivery of 152 stamps is thus effected.

It will be understood that while a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is described above and shown in the drawings, the same may be practiced in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing machine comprising a magazine for the material to be dispensed, a bank of keys for selecting the quantity of material to be dispensed, means for feeding the material from the magazine to a delivery point, a revoluble means for determining a dispensing cycle, individual mechanical detents for holding the keys in depressed condition, common means operated by selecting movement of any of the keys for determining the movement of the feeding means, and parts associated with the cycle-determining means for successively actuating the r key detents whereby to procure a stoppage of the feeding means upon release of the key which received selecting movement.

2. A dispensing machine as in claim 1, including a prime mover, a first clutch connected to the prime mover, a secondary clutch driven from said main clutch when closed and being connected to the feeding means, said first clutch being also connected to the cycle-determining means, said common means being effective for controlling the closing of said secondary clutch, manually operable means independent of the keys for controlling the closing of said primary clutch, and means controlled by said cycle-determining means for controlling the closing of said first clutch.

3. A dispensing machine for effecting the delivery of variable quantities of articles, comprising a set of selector keys for individually determining a quantity of articles to be dispensed in a given cycle, a revoluble cycle determining means for performing a fixed travel regardless of the number of articles to be dispensed, and a device for assuring the stoppage of said cycled etermining means at a fixed initial position, a feeding means for the articles, devices actuated from the individual keys for controlling the duration of operation of the feeding means in a given cycle, said cycle-determining means being effective for successively releasing said control devices after delivery operations in the feeding means and therewith bringing the feeding means to a standstill after the feeding of a quantity of articles corresponding to the actuated selector key, power means for moving the feeding means and the cycle-determining means, and means effective after the feeding means is brought to a standsill for procuring the completion of a cycle of movement of said cycle-determining means and therewith its restoration to said initial position.

4. A machine for dispensing variable quantities of articles comprising a bank of depressable selector keys,

a plurality of detents cooperative with the keys for holding the same in depressed selecting position, a mechanism for feeding the articles and driving means therefor, a common control device operable by any key and effective when the key is depressed for procuring connection of the driving means and the feeding mechanism, a rotating cycle-determining element having angularly spaced parts effective during the rotation for successively actuating the detent means for releasing the associated key, said rotating element being driven in unison with the feeding mechanism so that the feeding mechanism performs individual feeding operations in number equivalent to the numerical value of the depressed key prior to the release of the detent means corresponding to said depressed key whereby to intrrupt the feeding of articles during the rest of the prevailing cycle, and a stop controlled by the rotating element for interrupting the movement of the same at a predetermined initial position.

5. A machine for dispensing articles comprising a feeding mechanism for delivering the articles successively, a bank of depressable selector keys, a plurality of detents each effective for holding a selector key in depressed position, a rotating cam system including cams individually effective for successively actuating the detents after arcuate movements of the rotating element corresponding to the number of articles to be delivered in the prevailing cycle, a prime mover, a first clutch device driven from the prime mover, a second clutch device driven from the first clutch device and connected for drivingthe feeding mechanism, said first clutch device being also connected for driving the cam system, means controlled by any selector key upon depression for preparing operation of said second clutch device, an operation switch effective for controlling said first clutch device for initiating movement of the cam system, and means controlled by the cam system for causing the same to complete a cycle of operation after initiation and then effective to stop the rotating element in its initial position.

6. A dispensing machine as in claim 5, including means controlled by the cam system and effective at the close of a cycle thereof for procuring operation at said first clutch device to terminate the driving relation therethrough.

7. A machine as in claim 5, in which the means controlled by the depressed key for procuring a driving relation through said second clutch device is associated with a device controlled by the cam system whereby the driving relation is not established at the second clutch device while the rotating element is in initial position and is established after a small initial movement of the rotating element from its initial position, and manually operable means for preventing the establishment of driving relation in said second clutch device while permitting driving relation to be maintained to said cam system.

8. A dispensing machine having a revoluble cycledetermining member and a feeding system for delivering 17 means being effective successively for restoring the said setting devices after a number of feeding movements equivalent to the manual selection effected in said first manually operable means and thereby terminating the feeding movement of said feeding system.

9. A machine for dispensing variable quantities of articles, settable selecting means for determining the quantity to be delivered, mechanical detent means for holding the selecting means in determining position, a rotating cycle-determining element having an instrumentality effective during the rotation for actuating the detent means for releasing the settable selecting means after a number of arcs of movement of the element equivalent to the quantity to be dispensed, article feeding means, means for restoring the selecting means to its initial position when the detent means has released the same, a driving means connectable to the element and the feeding means whereby the feeding means can perform during a cycle of the said element a number of feeding movements equal to the maximum value selectable by said selecting means, devices responsive to the selecting means and effective upon release of the detent means for interrupting the movement of the feeding means, a stop for interrupting the movement of the rotating element at a predetermined initial position, and means independent of the feeding means for assuring continuance of movement of the rotating element into said initial position.

10. A machine as in claim 9, in which means is provided under control of said rotating element for preventing saidfeeding means being driven until the said element has moved through a part of the first arc of its movement, and a manually operable device is provided for preventing coupling of the driving device to said feeding means during the course of a rotation of the rotating element regardless of the position of the selecting means whereby the detent means can be actuated during a cycle of the said rotating element without accompanying feeding of articles.

11. A machine as in claim 9, in which said independent means is controlled from said rotating element, whereby the movement of said feeding means is prevented while said rotating element is in initial position, thereafter is permitted while the rotating element is traveling through said number of arcs determined by the set selecting means, and then is prevented until the rotating element has again moved past initial position in the succeeding cycle.

12. An article dispensing machine comprising a feeding mechanism, a selector system for determining the number of articles to be dispensed, cyclically operating means for restoring the selecting system to initial position during the course of a dispensing cycle, power means for operating said feeding mechanism and said restoring means in unison whereby the restoring means will procure restoration of the selecting means and said feeding mechanism will effect delivery of the selected number of articles prior to the completion of the cycle of said restoring means, a delivery mechanism for dispensing the group of articles fed during the prevailing cycle, and means controlled by the restoring means for procuring operation of the delivery means after cessation of movement of the feeding mechanism and prior to the close of the cycle of said restoring means.

13. An article dispensing machine comprising a feeding mechanism for delivering articles to be dispensed, a selecting system for determining the number of articles to be delivered, a cyclically operating restoring system for controlling the feeding mechanism through successive restoration in said selecting system, drive means connected with the feeding mechanism and the restoring mechanism whereby the feeding mechanism can perform a plurality of feeding operations during the first part of a cycle, means controlled by the selecting mechanism for interrupting the drive of the feeding mechanism when the selected number of articles has been delivered by the feeding mechanism, means controlled by the restoring 18 mechanism for assuring its operation to the end of a completed cycle, a dispensing device for the group of articles delivered by the feeding mechanism, and means controlled by the restoring mechanism for procuring operation of said dispensing means after the close of said first part of the cycle.

14. A machine as in claim 13, including means controlled by the restoring mechanism and effective for preventing operation of the delivery means during said first part of the cycle.

15. Adispensing machine as in claim 13, in which there is present a safety means controlled by the restoring mechanism and effective after the close of said first part of the cycle for preventing operation of the feeding mechanism.

16. A dispensing machine as in claim 15, and including manually operable means for preventing actuation of said dispensing means whereby the articles delivered in two or more successive cycles may be grouped prior to an operation of said dispensing means.

17. A dispensing machine as in claim 16, in which said manually operable means is also effective to prevent stoppage of the restoring means at the end of the prevailing cycle.

18. A machine for feeding variable numbers of articles of one or more classes, comprising article feeding means for each of said classes, settable selecting means for determining the number of articles to be fed from each class, a rotatable cycle-determining element having an instrumentality to procure restoration of the selecting means to original position after the rotatable element has moved through a number of arcs equivalent to the setting of the selecting means, means for driving the feeding means and the rotatable element and including a device for normally preventing driving connection when the rotatable element is in initial position and procuring such connection after movement from the initial position, means effective for procuring initial movement of the rotatable element out of initial position, means controlled by the rotatable erement effective after such initial movement for procuring the completion of a cycle of movement of said rotatable element, and means controlled by the selecting means for maintaining movement of the feeding means in unison with the rotatable element during movement of the latter through said selected arcs, said instrumentality being effective by restoring the selecting means to procure termination of movement of the feeding means.

19. In a dispensing machine for delivering variable quantities of articles and having feeding means for advancing the articles to a delivery point, a driving means connectable to the feeding means, quantity selecting means comprising a set of manually depressable keys, common means controlled by any of the keys for maintaining the connection of the driving and feeding means so long as any key is depressed, detent means for holding any depressed key in depressed position, and a cycle-determining system comprising a revoluble member connected to said driving means and having detent releasing means thereon for successively actuating the detent means in order according to the value of the several keys whereby said common means is restored to initial position upon release of the depressed key and thereby effects a cessation of said connection of said driving and feeding means and of the delivery movement of said feeding means.

20. A machine as in claim 19, in which the keys are associated with springs urging them back to initial position, said keys each having a projection to be engaged and detained by an associated detent in said detent means, said detents each having projecting portions, the revoluble cycle-determining member having a series of peripherally spaced releasing fingers for successively engaging said detent projections and thereby effecting release of the successive keys after angular movements of the cyclel9 determining member equivalent to the number of articles selected by the corresponding key.

21. A machine as in claim 19, in which said common means controlled by any of the keys includes means for procuring operation of the driving device and also means effective for preparing connection of the driving means to the feeding means, a second manually operable device normally preventing said connection of the driving means to the feeding means and effective for completing such connection upon a partial rotation of said cycle-determining means.

22. A dispensing machine for stamps in strips with perforations separating the individual stamps along the length of the strips, comprising a channel along which the strip may move, a pair of connected and symmetrically positioned rotatable cams and a pair of cooperating cam plates having square openings therein, each cam plate being in a respective said hole and having diametrically opposed surfaces which are arcs of large and small diameter engageable with opposite pairs of walls of the corresponding opening and with the arc of large radius having a peripheral extent so that its ends are simultaneously engageable with a pair of said opposite walls, each said plate having associated therewith a pin for engaging in a said perforation, with the pins of the two cam plates so located that in a position of said cam plates, between feeding movements thereof, both pins can simultaneously be in perforations of the strip and at least one pin is always engaged in the strip at a perforation thereof, and guide means located parallel to and at right angles to the direction of said channel and cooperative with the cam plates for controlling the same during rotation of the cams whereby the pins are caused to move in rectilinear paths.

23. A machine as in claim 22, including means for stopping the cams while the cam plates are engaged with the said guide means at right angles to the direction of said channel, and in which a cutting device is provided at the end of the channel, said pins being so spaced relative to the cutting device that a line of perforations is present at the cutting device when said cams are so stopped, means for rotating the cams when said stopping means are withdrawn whereby to procure feeding of the stamp strip, and manually operable devices for withdrawing the stop means and procuring actuation of said rotating means, and means moving in unison with the rotating means for restoring the stopping means.

24. A dispensing machine for stamps in strips with perforations separating the individual stamps along the length of the strip, comprising a channel along which the strip may move, a pair of connected and symmetrically positioned cams and a pair of cooperating cam plates having square openings therein, each cam cooperating with its plate for procuring a cycle of movement thereof comprising a partial movement in a plane at right angles to the stamp strip in the channel, a full movement in a direction parallel to the stamp strip, a full return movement in the direction at right angles to the strip, a full return movement in the direction of the stamp strip, and a partial return movement in said first direction at right angles to the strip, each said plate having associated therewith a pin for engaging in a said perforation, with the pins of the two plates so located that in the initial position of said plates prior to the feeding movement, both pins can be in perforations of the strip whereby at least one pin is always engaged in a perforation of the strip, means for stopping the cams in the initial position, and fixed guide means cooperative with the plates to compel non-rotative movement thereof in said directions.

25. A dispensing machine for variable numbers of stamps from a plurality of strips with perforations separating the individual stamps along the length of the respective strip, comprising individual channels along which the respective strips may move, two pairs of symmetrically positioned connected cams and driving means therefor including separate clutches, two pairs of cam plates, each pair of plates cooperating with a pair of cams so that during a complete revolution of the pair of cams the associated plates successively perform a partial movement at right angles to a respective stamp strip, a full movement in a direction parallel to the stamp strip, a full return movement in the direction at right angles to the strip, a full return movement in the direction of the stamp strip, and a partial return movement in said first direction at right angles to the strip, the plates of the pair performing such movements concurrently and at degrees phase separation, each said plate having associated therewith a pin for engaging a said perforation of the respective stamp strip with the pins of the pair of plates so located that in the initial position of the plates, prior to feeding movement, both pins can be in perforations of the strip whereby at least one pin is always engaged in a perforation of the strip, separate means for stopping each pair of cams in the initial position, the cams of one pair having a greater throw than the cams in the other pair whereby the respective strips are advanced by different distances for each revolution of the respective pair, and fixed guide means cooperative with the plates to compel non-rotative movement thereof in said directions.

26. A dispensing machine for stamps present in the form of strips having perforations spaced along the length of the strips at distances equivalent to the lengths of the stamps, a first strip having a greater number of stamps in the width direction than a second strip, a set of cam devices and pairs of cooperating parts, said parts each having a pin for engaging in said perforations and being actuated during revolution of the corresponding cam device to move in a path in which the pin is withdrawn from the strip, then moved backward along the strip, then introduced into a succeeding perforation of the strip, and then moved forward to feed the strip, the other part of the pair being concurrently actuated at 180 degrees phase displacement whereby at least one pin is always engaged in the strip and the pin of one part is advancing the strip when the pin of the other part is moving backward free thereof, the cam devices for the two strips having differing throws and effective to cause the associated parts to move the strips by different distances during revolutions of the respective cam devices, means for stopping the cam devices, and pre-selecting means effective to procure operation of the stopping devices and therewith cessation of the respective strip advancement after feeding of the proselected number of stamps therefrom.

27. A dispensing machine for stamps in a perforated strip, comprising a channel along which the strip can move, a pair of feed plates having pins for engaging the perforations, means for moving said plates and pins concurrently each in a quadrilateral path in a plane lengthwise of the strip with the pins during a part of the path intersecting the position for the strip, with the plate movements separated 180 degrees in phase, said plates being supported relative to the channel so that during a forward movement of a plate the pin associated therewith is in a perforation and acts to feed the strip and simultaneously a backward movement of the other plate is occurring with its pin withdrawn from the strip and whereby the pin of said other plate is engaged with the strip before the pin of said first plate is withdrawn therefrom, the quadrilateral path lengthwise of the strip being in integer relation to the spacing of the strip perforations whereby the pins are caused to enter said perforations, a stop for preventing movement of the plates, and fixed guide means cooperative with the plates to compel non-rotative movement thereof in said directions.

28. A dispensing machine for a strip, comprising a support member along which the strip may move, said member having guide ribs for the strip, feed means having fingers movable in quadrilateral paths including forward feeding strokes with a first finger engaging the strip while a second finger is performing a rearward movement free of the strip followed by a forward feeding stroke with said second finger engaging the strip while the first finger is performing a rearward movement free of the strip, said support member being apertured for movement of the fingers into and out of engagement with the strip, and fixed guide means cooperative with the plates to compel non-rotative movement thereof in said directions.

29. A dispensing machine as in claim 28, including a cover bearing against the ribs and cooperative with the support member to define a space within which the strip may move, said cover being recessed for permitted move ment of the fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Skerl Nov. 14, 1922 Wescott Apr. 3, 1923 Kudler et a1 July 29, 1924 Albrecht et a1 Nov. 15, 1938 Scher Nov. 21, 1939 Beckman et al. Oct. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 15, 1953 

